Sorry about the length of this, I got it as short as I could...
I started swimming summer-league only as an 11-year-old, I was very slow at the time but have improved a lot since then. My goal was always to make it to the county meet, which I never actually did except in relays. We only swam 50's of each stroke, 100 free, and 100 IM. I alwyas assumed I was a sprinter because I did okay in the 50's and didnt' have the endurance to do a good 100. This past year was my freshman year, and I joined my college club team, swimming about 3 days a week for an hour, uncoached. This summer is my last summer of eligibility for summer league, and my 50's are about the same as last year. My 100's have improved a lot - 6 seconds off my 100 IM since last summer. Now I think I may be more of a middle-distance swimmer than a sprinter, especially since my summer league coach keeps telling me my strokes are not powerful enough for a good sprint. Now that my goal in swimmming can't be to do well in the county meet, I'm having trouble figuring out what my goals should be. My best stroke is backstroke, but I've really started enjoying the IM lately.
So basically, I think I may be a middle-distance swimmer, trying to figure out my goals for the next few years, and don't have a coach to help me. Any advice?
One of my goals is to make four practices a week, maybe you could try increasing by one day. I have a basic schedule on the refrigerator, I get a lot of satisfaction out of checking off my practices and it really keeps me on track. Or add one set to every practice, instread of one work set, do a work and a mop up set. You will be amazed at how much that little bit will add up over time and you will be much more fit because of it. My point is that your goals do not have to be lofty, make little goals that keep you on track.
One of my goals is to make four practices a week, maybe you could try increasing by one day. I have a basic schedule on the refrigerator, I get a lot of satisfaction out of checking off my practices and it really keeps me on track. Or add one set to every practice, instread of one work set, do a work and a mop up set. You will be amazed at how much that little bit will add up over time and you will be much more fit because of it. My point is that your goals do not have to be lofty, make little goals that keep you on track.
